The first thing you might realise during a MUSCLECARS set is the sheer musicality of the duo's selections. Vocals glimmer at the centre, unfolding into enchanting, soulful coos, while drums strike captivating rhythms and gilded synths reach towards the sky. It's a jazzy New York house sound mythologised by pioneers like Joe Claussell, Carlos Sanchez and Timmy Regisford (whose songs all make it to this RA Podcast). For years, New York natives Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield have run their Coloring Lessons party as a way to introduce a younger generation to this vital piece of dance music history. In a city that prides itself on fast walking, fast talking and, as of late, fast BPMs, their music is an invitation to ease into a more relaxing pace.

This RA Podcast comes at a golden time for MUSCLECARS. In May, they released their RA-recommended debut album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, whose sultry (and undeniably catchy) lead single "Tonight" has gotten the stamp of approval, and a remix, from New York legend Louie Vega. And this Sunday, they hosted their annual Juneteenth block party outside the Lot Radio, where scores of Black dancers latched onto one another during sets from a multigenerational crew of Black DJs including Ron Trent, Lovie, Shawn Dub and MUSCLECARS themselves. This two-hour-plus mix takes us through the spiralling jazz of Herbie Hancock, the flashy disco of The Originals and lands us, finally, in "Water," the track that also closes out Sugar Honey Iced Tea!.

@musclecarsnyc

Read more at https://ra.co/podcast/941

RA podcast

RA.941 MUSCLECARS

Live Recording of Danilo Plessow at Dublins "Fidelity" Club, 14/02/2025.

Danilo Plessow 4H Set @ FIDELITY, Dublin 14-02-2025

Next up in our Mix Series is Musclecars 🚗✨

Hailing from New York, Musclecars is a DJ / Producer duo consisting of Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield. Their desire to blend genres and express their appreciation for music is focused around their community, their end goal to bring people together.

Musclecars at Love Dancin' [ We Out Here 2024 ]

Antal b2b Danilo Plessow performing live at Peti Kupe in November 2024

Antal b2b Danilo Plessow live at Peti Kupe - 10 juin 2025

"all good things come to an end but the memories live on."

this is the live recording of my set at the final edition of @velvetfestival in june 2025. I loved this intimate festival on the beautiful island of krk, croatia. playing freely, house, disco, gospel with a heart warming message.

suze ijó @ velvet fest 2025

The first half of RA.996 is Ron Trent's take on luxurious house.

As part of our countdown to RA.1000, a milestone in the 24-year history of RA's weekly mix series, we're switching up the usual format. The next few editions will pair two acts who complement each other's strengths, offering a fresh take on a particular community, scene or style. 

This week, we're zeroing in on Ron Trent and Ash Lauryn, two names who fly the flag high for old-school US house—a foundational pillar of the electronic underground. 

Trent takes the A-side. Hailing from Chicago, the birthplace of house, the pioneer is a master of finding the sweet spot where machine music meets organic instrumentation.  Listen to any DJ set or record in his extensive back catalogue and you'll find a wealth of exquisitely expressive melodies and deep, spiritual frequencies, making him the ideal narrator for any survey on house. (If you've only got a moment, sink into "Morning Factory," nine minutes of perfection.) 

Trent's return to the RA Podcast, 19 years after his debut in 2006, represents his many decades of expertise in fusing funk with gorgeous musicianship under the umbrella of heart-stirring house. Some may call it a masterclass but to us, it's just Trent doing what he does best.

Listened to as a whole, RA.996 is a powerful snapshot of house's elegance, class and most importantly, understated yet innately euphoric joy.

Find the interview and tracklist at ra.co/podcast/997

RA.996 Ron Trent

Forever learning and evolving her sound, globe trotting dj/producer Suze Ijó is back at the Lot radio to share her latest finds!

https://www.instagram.com/suze.ijo
https://www.soundcloud.com/suze_ijo

 

ijó's echoes with Suze Ijó and François K @ The Lot Radio 09-24-2025

Danilo Plessow (MCDE/Space Grapes) dropping by Lot Radio for a one hour set. 

https://www.instagram.com/daniloplessow_mcde
https://soundcloud.com/danilo-plessow



Danilo Plessow @ The Lot Radio 10-06-2025

Melodic tension.
Late-night connection.
Emotion over volume.

– JIM

Every You (Alberth & JIM Remix)

Green Girl

musclecars Live from Mister Sunday at Nowadays.

musclecars Live from Mister Sunday at Nowadays: November 10th, 2019

Native to New York, musclecars is a DJ / Producer duo consisting of Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield. As musicians, they equally share an admiration for the art form. Their desire to blend genres and express their appreciation for music is focused around their community- the end goal is to bring people together. Through a regular stream of high quality mixes, they have begun to turn heads in underground circles. 

In 2018 they launched ‘Coloring Lessons’, a party that was aimed to add value to their city’s nightlife culture. While the party and sound is not genre specific, it is heavily focused around house, disco, jazz, and soul, embracing the musical elements of their black and brown ancestors. The monthly party's intention is to bring New York City's dance music scene back to what it was during the golden era of NY nightlife. They aim to spread the music that has been influential to them, and share it with a younger generation of their peers.